Even after last night’s fiery debate in his home state, Iowa Congressman Steve King told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that he’s still searching for the right candidate to endorse in the Republican race for the Iowa caucuses.

So far, none had inspired him to reach a personal “conviction,” he said.

“Just like these candidates come to a conviction to run for president, I need to come to a conviction to get fully behind a single candidate,” King said. “That’s what’s holding me back. I hope to get there.”

King, who represents western Iowa in Congress, is known as an ardent conservative.

He also took questions on Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich specifically.

“Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer asked King if he could endorse Bachmann, with whom he’s worked closely in Congress.

“Michele and I fit right down the same on issue after issue,” he said. “… And the answer to that is yes, yes, but I haven’t come to the conviction, and so that’s what holds me back.”

Schieffer then asked about Romney’s difficulty gaining traction in Iowa.

“I think Mitt Romney was unjustly marked down for his religion last time I hope that’s not happening this time,” King said. “He’s a better candidate this time than he was four years ago.”

He went on: “But sometimes you can measure all the pieces, and where they are on issues and how they are in debate, and the list of those things goes on, but sometimes it’s just an intangible.

“I don’t know that Iowans have warmed up to him in the fashion that one would think given his positions on the issues.”

Schieffer then pressed King on the potential for a Gingrich nomination, asking if such an outcome could “drag down the party.”

“There is that risk, but Newt has shown himself to be very, very strong in these debates and I think that’s the foundation of the strength that he has in the polls.

“And then you’ll see some things come out that are just unpredictable. His statement on Palestinian question, which I generally agree with by the way, was a surprise and was unpredictable and was probably unnecessary in the scope of this campaign. Same with immigration. So you wonder what kind of discipline he might have.

“But he is clearly, hands-down, the one who’s got the most breadth, the most depth, the most understanding of policies and the most solutions to put forward. But it’s risky to go forward in the fashion that he has.

“When you’re blazing a trail when you’re on top of the polls, that tends to be a high liability.”